Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens - 旧芝離宮恩賜庭園 Japanese Gardens in Tokyo

Intro to Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens

Just by Tokyo Bay is one of the two remaining aristocratic gardens from the Old Edo days. Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens is a rather vast, amazingly sculpted and designed traditional Japanese garden and park. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful gardens in all of Tokyo!

Information

Address:

1-4-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku
Contact:

03-3434-4029
Open hours:

9am – 5pm (entry until 4:30pm)
Closed:

Dec. 29 – Jan. 1
Entrance fee:

General ¥150, 65 and older ¥70 (No charge for children aged 12 or under, and junior high school students living or attendng school in Tokyo) Annual pass ¥600 (65 or older ¥280)

Flower Calendar of Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens

Jan. : Wintersweet
Feb. – Mar. : Japanese apricot blossoms, Narcissus
Mar. – Apr. : Flowering quince, Thunberg’s meadowsweet, Cherry
Apr. : Ornamental peach blossoms, Yae-zakura cherry blossoms, Wisteria
May – June : Satsuki azalea
June : Japanese iris, Pink striped trumpet lily
June – July : Hydrangea
Jul. – Aug. : Crape myrtle
Aug. – Sep : Japanese bush clover, Red spider lily
Sep. – Oct. : Orange osmanthus
Oct. – Nov. : Leopard plant
Oct. – Dec. : Burning bush (red leaves)
Nov. – Dec. : Japanese wax tree (red leaves), Maple (red leaves)
Nov. – Feb. : Yukitsuri and Fuyugakoi (Winter plant protections)

Table of Contents

1. History of Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens
2. Features and Sights to See at Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens
2.1 Large Garden Pond at Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens
2.2 Seiko-no-tsutsumi
2.3 Mt. Oyama

History of Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu
Gardens

Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens is ragarded by many as being one of the most beautiful gardens in Tokyo, and it’s one of only two surviving Edo era feudal lord’s gardens along with Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens. It is a typical Japanese garden with a pond surrounded by a path, featuring superb ground and stone work. Kyu-Shiba-rikyu is filled with man-made hills which give excellent views of the environs, and and the highest hill Oyama provides a full, panoramic view. The garden was bestowed to Tokyo city in 1924 in commemoration of the wedding of Emperor Showa. After restoration and upgrading work, it was opened to the public as “Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Onshi-Gardens”.

Features and Sights to See at Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens

Large Garden Pond at Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens

This pond is the central feature of Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens, with approximately 9,000m₂ of extension. In former days, it was a shioiri-no-ike (salt water) pond) drawing in the sea water of Tokyo Bay, but it is now a freshwater pond. Two islets, Nakaima and Ukishima are arranged in the pond to create an image of a sea or lake with a beach-like area (Suhama) at the shore.

Seiko-no-tsutsumi

This is a stone made embankment that was designed in reminiscence of the same in Seiko Lake in Hangzhou (present province of Hangzhou). The stone formation of Nakaima survived from the days when the garden was called “Rakujyu-en”.

Mt. Oyama at Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens

The highest man-made hill in Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens which provides magnificent views of the garden. It contrasts with two hills on its right and left, and has a variety of extending ridge lines seen from the other shore of the pond giving a wonderful scenic view.

About the Author

Pjechorin

I have lived and worked with my family in Japan since 2005. For many years I have been interested in the very practical and creative side of Japanese culture. In my free time I travel around, enjoy hiking in the countryside and cities, and just generally seeing and doing new things. This blog is primarily a way for me to focus my energies and record and teach others about what I have learned by experience constructively. I am interested in urban development, and sustainable micro-economics, especially home-economics, and practical things everyday families can do to survive and thrive through these changing times.